New Business Ventures (NBVs) as activity systems

Jones, Oswald and Holt, Robin (2003) New Business Ventures (NBVs) as activity systems. UNSPECIFIED. Manchester Metropolitan University. ISSN 1478-8209

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Abstract

The first objective in this paper is to review the work of authors who have linked organizational theory with entrepreneurship. Secondly, the intention is to explore the possibilities of utilising activity theory as a conceptual framework for the study of new venture creation. The model developed by Engeström (1999) has six interlinked factors: subject, object, community, mediating artefacts, organizational rules and divisions of labour and knowledge. Relationships between subject (the entrepreneur) and object (the new business venture) are mediated through what Vikkunen (1996) describes as 'culturally formed artefacts' which include language, rules, division of labour and community. It is suggested that there is a direct link between 'the entrepreneurial process' and 'expansive learning' which is key to the effective enactment of new business ventures.